Hello,
We are Natalie and Ryan
and this is the story of Felix
After achieving top tutor status at 3 different test prep companies (The Princeton Review, Ivy West, Compass), we discovered the secret to maintaining the highest score improvements and student evaluations:
break all the rules.
Instead of teaching the curriculum as we were trained, we omitted questions and taught them in a different order – based on the student. We cultivated multiple ways of teaching each concept, ready for every kind of student, and every possible mental block.
In other words, we were teaching the student, not the curriculum.
But we wanted more than higher average score improvements – we had already been doing that for years. We wanted to find a way to give every student the tools to reach their highest potential in every part of the college admissions process.
So we applied the same philosophy to college essays and applications. We bypassed generic advice about “good” and “bad” college essay topics, focusing instead on what experiences made each student unique and how that exhibited talents and world views that would better match with college values and priorities. We also started matching students to colleges based on personalized academic and financial fit and student outcomes over rankings long before think pieces made it popular - and necessary - to question how schools rose or fell on national lists.
After witnessing the admissions industry mushroom into something that focused more on the bottom line than the student, we set out to create a simple, stress-free way for students to reach their peak. We bring over 25 years experience developing curricula, training teachers, establishing relationships in both high school classrooms and college admissions offices, and teaching students at both the high school and collegiate levels into the Felix experience.
Felix Personalized Prep represents our passion for teaching and our dedication to the whole student. We have a great time doing what we love and take enormous pride in our ability to give students a positive, fulfilling learning experience.
1. David Hawkins “Report Highlights Test Prep Paradox” NACAC May 20, 2009
Hello,
We are Natalie and Ryan
and this is the story of Felix
After achieving top tutor status at 3 different test prep companies (The Princeton Review, Ivy West, Compass), we discovered the secret to maintaining the highest score improvements and student evaluations: break all the rules.
But we wanted more than higher average score improvements – we had already been doing that for years. We wanted to find a way to give every student the tools to reach their highest potential in every part of the college admissions process.
So we applied the same philosophy to college essays and applications. We bypassed generic advice about “good” and “bad” college essay topics, focusing instead on what experiences made each student unique and how that exhibited talents and world views that would better match with college values and priorities.
After witnessing the admissions industry mushroom into something that focused more on the bottom line than the student, we set out to create a simple, stress-free way for students to reach their peak. We bring over 25 years experience developing curricula, training teachers, establishing relationships in both high school classrooms and college admissions offices, and teaching students at both the high school and collegiate levels into the Felix experience.
Felix Personalized Prep represents our passion for teaching and our dedication to the whole student. We have a great time doing what we love and take enormous pride in our ability to give students a positive, fulfilling learning experience.
Instead of teaching the curriculum as we were trained, we omitted questions and taught them in a different order – based on the student. We cultivated multiple ways of teaching each concept, ready for every kind of student, and every possible mental block.
In other words, we were teaching the student, not the curriculum.
Natalie Tucker
Natalie started in college admissions at the age of 19 by securing pro-bono test prep materials from The Princeton Review to teach under-resourced students of promise how to max their SAT scores. Not long after accepting a position with TPR, she became one of their top tutors, both in score improvements and evaluations, and was tasked to open the Pusan, Korea franchise, and became an integral piece for the Seoul, Korea franchise. She later worked at Compass where she again reached top tutor status, in addition to helping develop teacher trainings and overall curriculum. She founded what would become Felix Prep in 2006, expanding into college essay support and college matching. Keeping Felix a mission-oriented business, Natalie incorporated private work along with partnerships at local charter and public high schools to bring a college-going culture through classroom curriculum, college essay writing programs, and test prep courses, often as pro-bono work. She currently brings over 28 years of experience in college admissions and test prep to all students and their families, having helped secure students placements in top, best-fit institutions with the most competitive scholarship and merit aid offers. Natalie holds a BA in interdisciplinary studies (departmental honors) from UC Berkeley and is a member of IECA, HECA, NACAC, and WACAC.
Ryan Meyer
Ryan began with The Princeton Review in 2002, teaching and tutoring both the SAT and ACT as well as all levels of Math subject tests, and rapidly became one of their top tutors both in score improvements and student evaluations. He later joined Ivy West as both a top tutor and math curriculum developer, and began coaching students on their admissions essays both privately and through local high school affiliations. He joined Natalie at Felix in 2010 and brings over 20 years of experience with best-fit college admissions and scholarship matching and test prep improvements. Ryan holds a BA in film studies (departmental honors) from UC Berkeley and a MFA in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University (Dean’s Award, Sony/TAG Fellow), and is a member of HECA, NACAC, and WACAC.